Disclaimer - I do not own Fullmetal Alchemist however all OCs belong to me

Chapter Twelve - Return to East City

His forced two week vacation was finally over and after being examined by the doctor who'd ordered his two weeks of rest Nick was cleared to return to active duty as a State Alchemist. This news was a welcome relief to the young boy, who was beginning to fear for his sanity. He had never been one to enjoy being idle and his medical leave was beginning to seriously get on his nerves.

"It's about time." Nick wore a smug look on his face as he snatched his release papers from the doctor's hand.

"Be careful," the doctor called out as Nick left the office, shaking his head as he watched the young boy's hasty retreat. "I don't want to see you back in here. You're too difficult to deal with."

Nick waved his hand over his shoulder dismissively as he left the office.

Nick immediately left the military hospital and traveled directly to Central HQ. He was a man on a mission and wasn't going to allow anyone to get in his way. Once there, the boy immediately made his way down the hall to Col. Havoc's office. Nick knocked on the door but then thrust it open before waiting for a reply from his commanding officer.

Col. Havoc looked up from his paperwork when his office door opened. "Hey Chief. What can I do for you today?"

Nick walked over to Col. Havoc's desk and handed him the papers that he'd gotten from the doctor. The boy grinned triumphantly as Col. Havoc scanned the documents, a serious expression on his face.

"Alright Chief," Col. Havoc said as he finished reading the papers that Nick had handed him. "It looks like you win. You're back on active duty."

"Finally," Nick said.

"So," Col. Havoc said, his gaze focused intently on his young charge. There was a glint in the kid's golden eyes that hinted at the fact that he already had plans. "What do you intend to do now?"

"Continue my research," Nick replied.

Col. Havoc nodded, thinking that Nick had decided not to return to East City. "Keep me informed."

Nick nodded and turned to leave.

"Fullmetal."

"Yes?"

"Be safe."

Nick saluted and left the office.

Once out in the hallway Nick smiled as he moved a lock of his golden hair out of his eyes. "I thought I'd have to lie to him about where I'm going and what I'm going to do but he didn't even ask. That was NOT what I was expecting. I can't believe my luck."

"So what exactly do you plan to do Nicholas?" a voice asked behind him.

Nick gasped and whirled around to see Kaori glaring at him from against the wall. How the hell had she managed to sneak up on him without him having noticed? He was usually more careful than that. "You show up at the most inopportune times, you know that Kaori?"

"And you're changing the subject again Nick," Kaori said, eyeing his suspiciously.

"I'm going back to East City," Nick told her, realizing that she'd be able to tell if he lied to her. "Now, are you gonna run and tell your daddy?"

Kaori shook her head, narrowing her eyes as she gazed over at her friend. "No and I can't believe you think I'd do such a thing. However, I don't think you should go. If you get in trouble this time there won't be anyone there to save you."

"I won't need anyone to save me this time," Nick said confidently, his golden eyes filled with conviction. "I will stop that man this time and he will pay for what he has done."

"Can't you let it go Nick?" Kaori's voice was pleading and her eyes glistened as she stared at her friend. "No good can come of this. You shouldn't seek revenge. Just be happy you're still alive."

"I'm not seeking revenge for myself," Nick told her. "He will pay for taking the lives of State Alchemists for a crime that none of them had committed. And I'm sorry Kaori but I can't just let it go."

Kaori gazed sadly at Nick, whom she'd grown to like over the past few weeks. "You're too stubborn for your own good. And it's gonna get you killed."

"You worry too much," Nick said, in an attempt to alleviate Kaori's fears. "I'll be okay."

"Sure," Kaori said, not at all convinced. "Like I haven't heard that one before."

Nick was sorry for the fact that he was going to cause his friend to worry about him however he had made his decision and there was no talking him out of it. He was determined to find the man who had taken the lives of so many, and had in fact attempted to take his own life, and make him pay.

After a grueling train ride Nick arrived in East City and, once there, the young alchemist immediately began searching for clues as to the whereabouts of the man that had attacked him. Hunter he had called himself. "I will find you Hunter," the boy muttered to himself as he searched. "Consider yourself the hunted from this moment forward."

Unfortunately it seemed that Hunter had left East City some time during Nick's forced medical leave and after a couple of days of searching the young boy was forced to admit the fact that he wasn't going to find his enemy any time soon.

"But this doesn't mean that I won't," Nick vowed as he prepared to return to Central. He had made a promise to all those who had lost their lives to the State Alchemist killer and he wouldn't go back on that promise. "I will avenge you all."

TBC. . .

A/N - and thus ends another chapter. This is Hitsu-taichou signing out.